THE 

UNIVERSITY 

OF    ILLINOIS 

X 

LIBRARY 
CI   Y\ 

ILUNQIS 

HISTORIC^  SURVEY 

1 

flUNOIS 

IW^ARRATITE 


or   THE 


EVENTS  CONNECTED  WITH  THE 


ELECTION  OF 


AN  ASSISTANT  BISHOP, 


FOR  II^UNOIS. 


^K^S^N«^^^^^V 


BY   A   PBESBVTER  OF   THE   DIOCESE. 


JUBILEE  COLLEGE: 

PBrNTKD  AT  THE  JVBII.EB  PBBS8. 

1848. 


A  NAEEATIYE,  &c.         ":;:  : 
1 

^         The  false  statements,   made  concerning    the 
1,    election  of  an  Assistant  Bishop  for  Illinois,  during 
•-    the  last  session  of  the  General  Convention,  have 
o   been  industriously  kept   before  the  public  in  the 
columns  of  the  50-cailed  "  True    Catholic"    aad 
Utica  "  Gospel  JMessenger." 
S         The  charges  of  exercising  an  "  undue"  or  "  an 
,     unlawful  influence"  to  procure  the  election  of  a 
"^     particular  individual,  of  even  "  commanding"  the 
^  clergy  on  their  '^canonical  ohedience^^  to  vote  for 
•    him:  of  "  endeavoring:  to  remove  a  Parisli  Min- 
ister,  to  make  provision  for  his  maintenance  ;"of 
holding  out   the  private  resources  of  the   person 
proposed,   as  a  reason  why  he  should  be    chosen, 
which  was  denominated  a"simoniacal  contract," 
form  the  chief  burden  (so  far  as  Bishop  Chase  is 
concerned)    of  those  representations  which  were 
made  in  the  House  of  Deputies,  with  the  view  to 
prevent  the  confirmation  of  the  canonical  election 
Q  of  the  Rgv.  James  B.  Britton,  to  be  assistant  Bish- 
^  op    of   Illinois.        These    charges  v/ere   also  ac- 
C  companicd  with  such  reflections  on  the  Bishop's 
■%  manner,  as  to  leave  the  impression  that  he  acted, 
not  only  unjustly,  but  with  the    most  undignified 
weakness. 

Most,  if  not  all  the  above  representations  had 
(O  their  origin  in  a  communication  made  by  Rev.  Mr. 
^^  ^Giddinge,  not  originally  his  own,  but  which  he 
"5  adopted,  prefacing  it  with  the  declaration  that 
I  there  had  been  no  election!  On  the  other  hand, 
wi  Rev.  Messrs.  Kelly  and  Samuel  Chase,  of  Illinois, 
-U  gave  a  very  different  account  of  the  facts  concern- 


I 


»> 


ing  the   clec'.ion — utterly  denied   the  excrciic  of 
any  undue   influence  or  command  upon  canonical 
obedience — and  would,  had  they  been  as  willing- 
ly and  patiently  lieard  as  those  who  spoke  on  the 
opposite  side  of  the  question,  have  produced,  it  is 
believed,  a  different  result;*  while  the  arguments 
of  Dr.  Hawks  and  others,  went  to  show,  that  had 
even  the  Bisliop  distinctly  asserted  that  if  the  per- 
son mentioned  by  him  were  not  elected,  he  would 
withdraw  the  proposition  for  the  election    of  an 
assistant   Bishop,  he  could  not  be    considered  as 
exercising  an  unlawful  influence  over  the  election. 
Those  who  looked  calmly  on,  and  read  the  pro- 
ceedings of  the  convention,  it  was  thought,  could 
Bee  that  sufficient  was  said  in  the  debate  sustain- 
ing the  course  of  Bishop  Chase,  to  counteract  the 
ill  impression  which  laight  hav3  been  made  if  the 
assertions  of  Mrr  Giddinge  and  the  coMments  upon 
tliem  had  <Tone  forth  un^ontrafiioted  at  the  time 
But   ths  charge  of   dictation   lias  been  allowed 
since  the  Convention,  to  pass  current. 

Several  of  the  church  periodicals  have  sought 
to  create  the  impression  that  Bisliop  Chase  had  en- 
deavored by  an  unheard  of  stretch  of  power  to  "  ap- 
point his  successor."  The  editor  of  the  Gospe 
Messenger  of  Utica,  N.  Y.,  seeking  to  enlighten 
his  readers  concerning  EnMish  Church  mat^ 
ters,  says  in  reference  to  the  election  of  Dr- 
Hampden  to  the   See  of  Hereford :  "  The  Conge 

•It  is  but  just  here  to  state  that  the  Rev.  Mr.  K.  asserted  tha 
he  had  important  mntler  to  coniinunicate,  but  could  r.ot  obtain  the 
floor;  and  the  r^portcl  debates  show  thattlie  Rev.  S.  Chase  was 
interrupted  in  tlie  moat  important  part  of  his  speech,  by  a  mein- 
ber  rising  to  a  point  of  order !  Did  this  show  a  desire  to  elicit 
truth  ? 


B 

d^lire,  is  the  permission  of  the  crown  to  the  chap- 
ter of  the  Diocese  to  elect,  but  the  crown  (i.  e^ 
just  now  Victoria)  with  her  permission  to  elect, 
nominates,  as  did  the  Bishop  of  Illinois,  uxi  indi- 
vidual, not  permitting  the  election  of  ai^y  other." 

In  the  "True  Catholic"  it  is  said  "that^twa:; 
proved  in  the  House  of  Deputies,  that  '•ha  Bishop 
had  commanded  his  clergy,  o'l  their  cnnonical 
obedience,  to  vote  for  a  particul&r  individual ;'' 
and  his  cllcd!3:ed  TsivLZ^Ciioconc'^r  \yi  the  election 
if  his  nominee  v/as  net  choren^  is  courteously  des- 
ignated in  the  sam3  periodical  ej  a  "threat" — 
**  a  mere  hruiur/i  fuirnen  '' 

These  exprecsio-iS  «•">  r.p.b8Comin<y  the  clerical 
character,  (even  supposing  the  case  asb?d  as  rep- 
resented,) indicate  r  Spirit  which  I  cannot  hope 
to  allay,  but  only  tc  r.yoid,  v/hile  discharging 
what  I  regard  as  a  duty :  to  make  a  plain  state- 
ment of  facts  concerning  the  election,  as  one  ful» 
ly  cognisant  of  them,  independent  of  the  previ- 
ous testimony  of  other? 

It  is  hoped  that  the  mere  assertions  of  anony- 
mous writers,  or  th«  judgment  of  reviewers  of 
the  debates,  coupled  with  such  epithets  as  used 
above  towards  a  Christian  Bishop,  will  not  form 
the  sole  rule  of  judgment,  with  those  who  desire 
to  discover  the  truth. 

The  "  Communication"  alluded  to  in  the  jour- 
nal of  the  Illinois  Convention  of  1847,  renewing 
the  request  for  an  assistant  Bishop,  was  made  on 
Tiiesdai/.  This  fact  has  been  brought  forward 
to  show,  that  it  was  not  mentioned  in  the  address 
♦r  on  Monday,  in  order  to  spring  the  matter  upon 


41 

tlic  Convention  inc  iast  day  of  its  session.     In  an- 
swer to  this  it  may  be  sufiTicicnt  to  say,  that  it   is 
known,  tliat  the  opening  of  the   Illinois  Conven- 
tion is  always  on   Sunday,  and  that  the  members 
are  supposed  to  be   bound,    if  not  providentially 
prevented,   to  be   present   on    that  day,   to    par- 
take  of  tlie  Holy  Communion    together.      Now> 
tlac    two    Rev.    objectors,  (Rev.    Mr.    Giddinge 
and  Louderback,)  were    at   St.   Louis  on  Sun- 
day, (having  passed  by  the  town  of  Alton,    where 
tlie  Convention  met)  ;  and  who  Cftn  say  what/;r<?« 
tests  would  have    been  made,   if  the    matter  had 
been  brought  forward  in  the   address,  which  they 
had  notheard,  and  the  convention  had  acted  on  it 
Monday  morning  when  they  iivere  not  present! 

Before  the  meeting  of  the  convention  on  Tuesday 
morning,  the  Bishop  desired  two  of  the  leading 
clerical  members  to  confer  with  him,  as  to  the  ex- 
pediency of  electing  an  assistant  Bishop;  and  an- 
ticipating the  opposition  which  has  since  arisen 
on  the  part  of  two  or  three,  asked  if  tlicy  would 
say  candidly,  whether  they  would  agree  in  the 
clioice  of  a  person  whom  he  would  name,  and  en- 
deavor to  procure  unanimity  in  his  election. 

It  was  remarked  by  one  of  the  gentlemen — *'It 
depends  upon  the  man  ;"  and  he  thought  that  the 
Convention  would  prefer  a  person  out  of  the  Dio- 
cese. The  Bishop  then  said  he  did  not  have  ref- 
erence to  any  person  within  the  Diocese,  and  then 
mentioned  Mr.  Britton,  and  what  he  knew  of  him 
—his  popular  talents,  his  successful  ministry,  &C. 
It  was  said  by  the  gentlemen,  that  all  they  knew 
of    Mr.    Britton   was    favorable,   and   if  nothing 


should  alter  their  opinion,  they  would  cheerfully 
vote  for  him.  He  had  the  reputation  of  being  a 
sound  and  moderate  churchman.  It  was  also  re- 
marked that  Mr.  Giddinge,  who  was  formerly  in- 
timate with  him,  had  said  casually,  that  he  *' re- 
garded him  as  the  best  parish  minister  he  ever 
knew." 

The  oonterenca  ended  by  tlie  Rev.  gentlemen 
agreeing  to  nominate  and  support  Mr.  B.  in  Con- 
vention. When  the-hour  came  for  assembling,  the 
Bisucp  Said  pxayeis  in  a  solemn  manner,  and  re- 
questing those  not  members  of  the  Convention  to 
ireti*.3.*  and  the  doors  to  be  closed,  he  said  he  had 
a  Cvrt;iiiunication  to  make.  Then  in  a  tender  and 
feeling  manner  he  alluded  to  his  past  labors  in  the 
cauj:^  i>I  the  Redeemer,  in  conjunction  with  his 
bt  -ved  clergy;  —  the  inability  on  account  of  his 
^^ -.  aiid  inci  easing  infirmities,  of  a  continuation 
t>f  thege,as  formerly  in  a  measure  equal  to  the  de- 
Cmand  of  the  increasing  Diocese.  He  then  signi- 
fied hir  desire  for  the  election  of  an  assistant  Bish- 
op: and  from  proceeding  to  describe  the  quali- 
fications in  his  opinion,  necessary  to  secure  use- 
fulness, he  was  led  to  go  beyond  his  previous  in- 
tention, and  mentioned  Mr.  Britten's  name,  asona 
whom  he  thought  would  be  mutually  acceptable ; 
and  further,  begged  them  when  they  came  to  act 
on  his  proposition  of  chosing  an  assistant  Bishop, 
if  they  could  not  agree  upon  Mr.  B.,  to  drop  th« 
matter  for  the  present,  and  let  it  remain  as  before. 

The  honorary  members  from  St.  Louis,  probably  supposed 
that  parliamentary  usage  justified  them  in  remainicg,  though  this 
request  was  twice  repeated ! 


e 

There  was  no  commanding  upon  canonical  obe- 
dience, or  any  expressions  \vliich  could  be  so  in- 
terpreted. The  absurdity  of  the  thing  would  at 
once  have  been  apparent.* 

It  was  simply  a  request  with  which  tliey  could 
comply  or  dissent,  as  they  might  see  fit. 

So  far  from  the  Bishop's  course  being  thought  to 

•During  a  speech  hy  Judiro  Chamber?,  of  M<1.  inUic  Hoii«e  of 
Deputies,  a  ciiriou3  cross-qupglioning  collomiy  occurred  cor  cern» 
ijig  this  language.  Rpv.  Mr.  Kelly,  of  llHnois,  rises  to  dcclar* 
that  he  "certmnly  did  not  hear  aly  command  from  the  Bishop 
oo  that  occasion." 

R«v.  Mr.  Griswold,  of  St.  Loui«,  "had  the  r ulhority  of  tb» 
delegate  from  Springfield,  HI.,  and  a  letter  from  another  gentle 
mnn  who  was  present  at  the  election,  to  confirm  his  assertion,  that 
the  Bishop  had  *'  commanded"  them.  Rev.  Mr.  Dresser,  [thb 
Delegate  from  Si-ringkield,  III.]  asserts  in  reply,  "'Iliat  h» 
had  no  recollection  of  the  Bishop  having  used  the  lunguagc  at- 
tributed to  him,  but  the  impression  made  on  his  mind  was,  that  tha 
Bishop's  remark  was,  that  unless  Mr.  Britton  were  elected,  b« 
did  not  wish  them  to  elect  any  one.  There  was,  he  dared  to  say, 
some  reference  to  canonical  obedience,  but  he  did  not  recoiled 
the  precise  import  of  what  was  said  on  that  subject."  When  Mr. 
Griswold  is  questioned  in  his  turn,  a.<J  one  present  and  aisisting, 
replies,  "that  it  struck  him,  that  such  language  was  used,  but  h« 
did  not  now  recollect  in  what  connection."  But  in  order  to  eli- 
cit something  more  to  the  point,  the  phrase  is  varied,  and  Mr.  Gid- 
dingeinquircs  whether  the  Bishop  did  not  say  something  about 
«  magnifying  his  oftice."  Yes !  it  miglit  have  been  answered,  and 
80  diS  St.  Paul;  but  in  what  connection  he  used  the  terms  is  a 
"  matter  of  no  small  importance.  "  I  cannot  admit,  as  did  Re». 
Mr.  Kell}',  tliat  the  Bishop  said  tl«t  if  the  Convention  did  not 
elect  Mr.  Britton,  they  should  not  elect  any  one.  I  prefer  to  taka 
Mr.  KcWy's  first  statement  of  the  expressions  used,  in  which  ha 
aCTees  with  the  statements  of  Rev.  Samuel  Chase,  and  Dresser, 
and  is  sustained  by  the  fact,  that  the  Bisl  op  df-iircd  the  Conven- 
tion if  they  could  not  agree  on  Mr.  Britton,  not  to  elect  any  one- 

The  expressions  "  command  on  canonical  obedience,"  &c.,  all 
admit  did  occur,  but  no  one  but  Mr.  Giddinge  asserted  that  they 
■were  used  in  reference  to  the  election,  and  he,  owing  to  his  deaf- 
ness may  have  easily  misunderstood  their  application.  It  will 
bere'coUected  by  the  members  of  the  Illirois  Convention,  that  up- 
on  the  debate,which  occurred  Tues  lay  ancrnoon,  concerning  the 
reneal  of  a  canon  for  the  trial  ol  ;i  clergyaan.  Bishop  Chase  said 
words  to  this  e(rect  :  '•  That  if  that  canon  wer-  not  repealed,  h« 
would  not  90  long  as  he  lived,  bring  a  trial  ui.der  it,  or  req,:ire  the 
clergy  on  their  canonical  obcdicvce  to  attend  it,  and  in  doing  fO  b« 
thought  he  nws»(/'f<^  h"  office." 


imply  dictation,  the  openness  and  candor,  and  if  I 
may  add,  affection,  with  which  he  spoke,  seemed 
rather  to  disarm  ail  opposition.  The  mention  of 
the  fact  that  Mr.  Britton  v/as  unknown  to  him  by 
sight,  showed  to  all  that  ha  had  no  preference 
purely  personal  to  gratify. 

And  on  the  whole,  the  manner  and  matter  of 
his  "  communication'*  left  the  impression  that  the 
peace  of  the  church  would  be  secured,  the  feelr 
ings  of  the  Bishop  respected,  and  the  good  of  th» 
Diocese  promoted,  by  agreeing  in  the  election  of 
the  person  named. 

Let  it  be  further  noted,  that  the  remarks  mad© 
by  the  Bishop,  were  before  the  reading  of  th© 
journal,  of  the  proceedings  of  the  day  previouff* 
After  which,  upon  proceeding  to  businessf,  th.« 
question  came  up  "  Shall  we  go  into  the  electioft 
of  an  assistant  Bishop  ?"  It  was  at  this  stage  of 
the  business  that  an  informal  proposition  to 
postpono  indefinitely  was  made,  but  was  not  sus- 
tained. 

Pending  its  discussion,  the  Bishop  walked 
across  the  chancel  with  some  appearance  of  agi» 
tation,  but  with  none  of  those  violent  gesticular 
tions  with  which  thaL  action  has  been  colored. — 
The  expediency  of  the  election  was  then  discusft- 
ed,  by  considering  how  the  assistant  Bishop 
should  be  supported,  &c.  It  was  then  that  the 
Bishop  made  known  the  offer  of  Rev.  Mr.  Kel- 
loo-g,  of  the  Rectorship  of  St.  James',  Chicago,  (it 
was  supposed  that  his  vestry  were  also  agreed.) 
It  was  entirely  voluntary^aud  unsolicited.* 

"  "The  letter  in  which  this  offer  was  made  was  addressed  to  Bi- 
gjiop  Chase,  without  reference  to  the  choice  of  any  paiticular  in- 


It  was  agreed  that  the  Diocese  should  provlJo 
for  his  travelling  expenses.  Wl.cn  the  expedien- 
cy of  the  measure  was  fally  discussed,  then  the 
question  wr.s  called  up  fov  a  voLe.  During  the 
debate  vhlch  pi-cceuca  this  vote,  was  ti»o  proper 
cn^portrniU'  ibr  ♦ho  eupression  of  opinion,  con- 
cprning  dictation,  c  d  if  sucli  hr^d  been  ob- 
gprve^  in  lae  irfisnop'sman.icjf,  or  in  th:j  proposi- 
tion '^i  "de  by  hi. :,  I  pity  the  individurJ  v/ho  had 
not  tha  ■  "•iiii'-^i&tc  aliirri,  ana  if  it  pressed  upon 
his  conscie.ice,  to  lesljt  it,  in  the  proper  limt  and 

placi 

A  vc:e,  ■  ,  )*^  the  henja'ive  would  have  quietly 
ilecidcd  \h>  inatce;-,  had  th^  majori'.y  tiiought 
edther  '.  thoiii^nGp^s  course  -t'Gj  impropcfj  or 
nii^neceEsaiy ;  ""d  since,  o*i  the  other  hand,  the 
question  wUJ  decided  i  i  t'.ic  afiirmative,  we  may 
justly  Infjv  i-hriC  ?.^^  se:z.  z  of  thz  Convcntk  was 
taken  Oi:  '.hc^e  l/ir^e  *ssi'cs  —  thaf  thi  coi.rcz 
of  w»c  jJiSuOp  in  .»/  tjposiji^  the  inutfcr  was  pro- 
^tY ;  thai  i.e.  cic:th:i  teas  expedient;  and  that  the 
person  ..cied  was  noiohjectionahlc. 

The  icction  took  place  in  the  afternoon,  after 
the  other  business   had  been    dispatched  in   good 

feelii  "  and  quietness.  The  Rev,  J.  B.  Britton 
was  nominated  by  the  clergy;  the  balloting  made 
according:  to  cunon,  and    ere  the  Convention  ad- 

dlridual,andl)ad  T)crn  in  his  possession  sevrral  racntlis.  II  is 
most  positively  (Irnied  11. at  any  mention  was  made  by  Bishop 
Chase  of  relinoii'shing  his  missionary  salary,  previous  to  the  elec- 
tion of  Mr.  Britlon,  nor  was  there  any  allii'ion  made  by  him  as 
to  Mr.  Britton's  private  resources^  forof  tliese  he  was  entirely 
ignorant.     The  fact  that  this  latter  charge  was  taken  np  and  ar- 

fiied  upon  at  length  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Giddinge,  as  if  the  office  had 
een  oncred  forsnleto  the  highest  bidder,  must  certainly  weaken 
his  position  with  such  as  know  the  facts. 


9 

journed,  every  person  entitled  to  a  seat,  had  sign- 
ed his  testimonials. 

After  all  the  husiness  of  tlie  convention  had 
been  transacted,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Worthington,  (a 
clergyman  in  deacon's  orders,)  rose  to  state  his 
reasons  why  the  mode  of  proceeding  should  not 
be  used  as  a  precedent;  prefacing  his  remarks 
with  a)i  express  disclaimer^  of  any  ivish  to  re- 
flect upon  the  Bishoii's  manner^  but  only  express- 
ing his  opinion,  that  the  naming  of  the  individual 
proposed  to  be  elected  Bishop,  should  in  all  cases 
originate  with  the  clergy,  over  whom  he  was    to 

preside.  It  was  evident  he  did  not  distinguish  be- 
tween an  Assistant  and  a  Diocesan  Bishop.  In 
the  former  case  the  existing  Bishop  is  as  much 
concerned  as  any  of  the  clergy  are.  It  would  be 
incongruous,  indeed,  if  the  person  so  chosen 
should  disagree  with  him  under  whose  direction 
he  is  to  act,  according  to  the  sixth  canon  of  1839.* 
It  is  not  an  inevitable  case  that  the  assistant  Bish- 
op is  to  be  the  successor  of  the  Diocesan,  and 
as  long  as  they  both  live,  it  is  evident  tliere  ouo-ht 
to  be  the  strictest  harmony  of  feeling,  to  which 
harmony  of  sentiment  strongly  tends.  The  cler- 
gy can,  by  letters  dismissory,  dissolve  their  con- 
nection with  the  Bishop  and  Diocese  at  any  time, 
but  the  connection  of  the  Bishop  with  his  Assist- 
ant, is  like  that  of  man  and  wife  —  "  For  better  or 
worse,"  "Till  death  do  them  part."  It  was  but 
reasonable,  then,  that  the  wishes  of  the  Diocesan 
should  be  expressed,  and  but  just  and  kind,  they 
should  be  respected ;  when  after  all,  the  Conven- 
tion had  the  matter  entirely  in  their  hands,  either 

• "  Tlie  assistant  Bishop  shall  perform  such  Episcopal  duties 
and  exercise  such  Episcopal  authority  in  the  Diocese,  as  the  Bish- 
op shall  assign  him.'' 


10 

to  refuse  the  election   altogether  or  to   substitute 
anotlier.* 

This  expression  of  the  opinion  of  Rev.  Mr.  W. 
(which  is,  i  iiope,  oi>en  to  correction)  has  been 
tortured  into  a  protest  against  dictathn  ;  whereas 
it  was  made  in  the  kindest  manner  and  with  the 
express    disclaimer  of  any  such  intent. 

In  due  time  the  matter  is  brought  before  the 
General  Convention.  Tiiere  witii  surprising  con- 
sistency, he  whose  name  appears  firstf  on  that 
document  which  aflirms  so  solemnly  before  Al« 
mighty  God,  that  there  is  no  impediment  known 
io  the  consecration  of  the  Bishop  elect,  is  the  first 
to  declare  there  has  been  no  election,  (a  very  for- 
midable impediment,  o;-e  would  suppose  to  con- 
secration !)  Nor  is  the  He  v.  gentleman's  position 
inconsistent  alone  with  his  invn  roJer.  i  ace,  but 
he  also  calls  in  question  the  sincerity  of  his 
constituents,  for  they,  and  he  ^rith  them,  had  af- 
firmed that  the  Rev.  J.  B.  Brittop  T/r<'  "  duly  nomi* 
natcd"  and  "didy  elected. ''J 

Thougli  he  does  not  pretend  that  any  new  mat^ 
tcr  had  come  up  afterwards,  yet  he  states  in  Gen- 
eral Convention,  "  that  within  ten  hours  after 
signing  the  testimonials  of  the  Bishop  elect,  he 
"was  convinced  tliat  he  had  acted  improperly,"  and 
when  iu  New  York,  (some  three  months  after- 
wards!) he  addressed  a  note  to  the  cliairraan  of 
the  committee  on  consecrations,  requesting  that  hi9 
name  might  be  taken  off  tiiat  paper !  Notwitli» 
standing  all  this,  (I  speak  advisedly,)  some  time 
after  the  ten  hours^\\\Q.  Rev.  gentleman  "address- 
ed a  letter  to  the  Bisl)op  elect,  giving  his  reasons 
for  opposing  his  election,  and  for  signing  his  testL- 

•  Would  not,  for  instance,  the  election  in  this  ca^c  have  been  val- 
id, a!ul  iiisi.-ted  upon  if  the  other  person  for  whom  one  vote  ■was 
cast, had  received  the  support  of  the  majority? 

t  A  precedence  which  he  seemed  at  the  time  emulous  to  obtain! 
*See  Illinoii  Jourual,  pp.  10. 


11 

monlals,  and  offering  if  he  would  make  Quincy 
his  residence,  to  resign  liis  parish  in  his  favor,  he 
being  invited  to  take  charge  of  St.  Pauls,  St. 
Jjouis."  It  is  certainly  not  my  place  to  reconcile 
such  inconsistencies.  I  leave  to  the  Diocese  of 
Illinois  the  task  of  freeing  herself,  at  tlie  proper 
time, from  the  imputation  of  dishonorable  submission 
cast  upon  her  by  one  of  her  own  representatives. 
The  most  charitable  judgment  I  can  entertain  is 
that  when  the  Rev.  gentleman  signed  that  paper, 
he  yielded  to  his  better  feelings  and  better  judg- 
ment, and  that  his  subsequent  course  was  the  real 

MISTAKE. 

If  there  was  no  election,  why  was  the  above  of- 
fer made?  If  there  was  no  "  free  clioice"  why 
after  the  election,  was  the  parish  of  St.  Paul's, 
Springfield,  proposed  by  its  representatives,  cou- 
pled with  the  offer  of  4>6{}0.per  ann.,  to  the  assistant 
Bishop  ?  Why  were  the  standing  committee  (with 
whom  the  matter  of  salai-y  was  left,)  authorized 
by  common  consent,  to  offer  him  $500,  to  bear  his 
travelling  expenses?  Every  one  must  be  con- 
ficious  that  in  the  election  of  a  Bishop  it  is  rarely 
the  case  thai;  all  are  suited —  conflicting  interests 
or  prejudices  will  exisi: — but  it  has  hitherto  obtained 
as  a  good  rule  that  the  majority  shall  decide.  In 
this  case  did  not  all  sign  the  testimonials  ?  and  are 
the  statements  of  an  uneasy  individual,  so  incon- 
sistent with  himself,  which  are  contradicted  on  the 
spot,  b}'  equally  competent  witnesses,  to  weigh 
against  this  fact;  while  every  insinuation  against 
Bishop  Chase  —  although  it  involves  the  disgrace 
of  the  Diocese,  is  to  be  listened  to  and  believed? 

If  the  decision  of  the  General  Convention  is  to 
be  refered  to  as  a  time  jndgment  upon  the  facts,  it 
must  be  answered,  that  it  was  so  artfully  managed 
that  a  v^rong  impression  was  given  concerning 
them,  in  the  House  of  Deputies. 

The  small  majority  by  which  the  signing  of  tho 


5 


19 

testimonials  was  defeated,  shows  tliJit  there  Was  a 
large  pr  -portion  who  held  just  views,  hotli  of  the 
necessity  of  an  assistant  to  the  Bishop  of  Illinois, 
and  thti  validity  of  his  election  j  and  had  these 
been  the  only  points  called  in  question,  there  18 
but  little  doubt  tliat  the  consecration  would   have 
taken    place.     But  when  the  objections  on   the 
ground  that  there  was  no  necessity    of  an  Assist- 
ant ;  and  that  the  election  was  invalid,  were  los- 
ing   their    force    upon    tlie    minds    of  members, 
through  the    statements  of  a   portion  of  the  Illi- 
nois delegation,    and  the   able  arcniments  of  some 
others,  the  insinuation  (for  it  deserves  no  better 
name,)  that  the  Bisliop  elect  was  not  qualified  in 
point  of  literary  attainments,*  is  tlirown  into  the 
scale;  no  time  is  given  to  rebut  a  charge,  so  cru- 
el to  the  Bishop   elect, —  cries  of  question  !  ques- 
tion'! prevail,   and  the  final  vote  is    taken  under 
tliesc  circumstances. 

If  we  may  believe  the  True  Catholic,  another 
motive  of  policy  —  (a  pitiful  policy !) '"the  jeal- 
ousy of  the  larger  Dioceses,  which  he  says  "may 

be  dignified  with  the  name  of  a  principle,"  had 
also  its  influence  in  producing  that  aetion  of  the 
highest  Assembly  of  the  Church,  which  reflects  no 
honor  upon  the  Diocese  of  Illinois,  and  aims  a  blow 
at  the  character  of  her  Bishop.  But  we  console 
ourselves  that  there  is  in  tlie  public  mind  a  sense 
of  justice,  based  upon  facts,  which  parlizans  can- 
not overrule ;  and  above  all,  that  there  is  a  just 
God,  who  will  finally  rectify  all  evils,  and  right  all 
wronffs.  D.    C. 


o 


•It  was  aflcrwarJs  proved  and  admitted  that  the  charge  wa« 
false. 


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